Man accused of child rape rejects plea offer

A man accused of impregnating an 11-year-old girl pleaded not guilty to child sex charges Wednesday.

David Lee Johnson, 25, is charged with first-degree rape, first-degree sex offense and indecent liberties with a child.

Johnson was arrested by Shelby Police on March 1, 2016, and posted a $40,000 bond the next day.

Prosecutors say he impregnated the middle school girl in 2015. Assistant District Attorney Beth Lari said in court that a paternity test of the child's baby proves Johnson committed the offenses.

The state has extended a plea arrangement. The details of the offer were not discussed in court this week, but defense attorney David Teddy said if his client takes it he'll spend more than 20 years in prison.

"This is a very difficult case for us to decide what to do," he said.

Teddy said he needs to talk to his client about his future and asked Superior Court Judge Mark Klass to continue the case to December.

Lari objected to the continuance, saying enough time has passed and the case needs to move forward.

"He either needs to plead guilty, or we need to set the case for trial," she said.

Klass agreed, and Johnson entered a plea of not guilty.

The case will be put on the calendar for November. Lari said she would leave the plea offer on the table until then.

Diane Turbyfill can be reached at 704-669-3334 and Twitter.com/ShelbyStarDiane.